ECOWAS parliament moves to stop exit of Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament is intensifying diplomatic efforts to prevent Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from exiting the regional bloc. The Deputy Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, revealed this on the sidelines of a meeting in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on the Joint Committee on Administration, Finance, Budget, Public Accounts, Macroeconomic Policy, and Economic Research, which he chairs.
Kalu emphasized that the Parliament is leveraging “parliamentary diplomacy” to engage with the governments of the three nations, reassuring that mechanisms are in place to address their concerns and maintain the integrity of ECOWAS.
“There are already mechanisms in place, through what is called parliamentary diplomacy, to reach out to them,” Kalu said. “Letters have been sent to them, and very soon, some of us will start visiting those countries to engage the heads of government. We’ll open up the doors for them to come back to the family; we need them. We’ll tell them, for instance, that, granted, maybe they were offended by one or two things, but let us sit down again and discuss,” he added.
Kalu expressed optimism that these diplomatic efforts would yield positive results, stressing that the unity of the ECOWAS family is paramount. “You can’t just forget them and say it doesn’t matter; that they can go on their own. No! We have to reach out to them and say we are better off as one family. I’m sure it’s going to work,” he stated.
However, Kalu also addressed the financial implications of a potential exit by the three countries. He reassured that even in a worst-case scenario, where these countries proceed to leave the bloc, ECOWAS would not be financially threatened. He noted that ECOWAS has multiple sources of revenue, with the Community Levy being just one of them. “There are many other sources. So, we want to make sure that we streamline it and know where monies are coming from. If these are not enough, we will increase because there are so many development agencies, and there are so many people who are interested in the sub-region,” Kalu explained.
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In addition to the diplomatic efforts, Kalu revealed that the ECOWAS Parliament is working to amend its Supplementary Act to strengthen the separation of powers and guarantee legislative autonomy within the bloc. He noted that obsolete laws must be revised to ensure that the legislature remains independent and capable of providing effective oversight.
Kalu, a lawyer and Chairman of Nigeria’s House of Representatives Constitutional Review Committee, emphasized the importance of a strong legislature as the foundation of a democratic establishment. He warned that without strengthening the legislative arm, the executive could become a “judge in their own case,” leading to weak institutions and a loss of credibility on the international stage.
The ECOWAS Parliament is committed to advocating for these changes through lobbying and negotiation, aiming to align the bloc’s governance structures with the principles of transparency, accountability, and credibility.
Kalu expressed confidence that these initiatives would gain the support of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, emphasizing the need for a united and strong ECOWAS community.
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